As Shadow Minister of Public Works, I cannot stress enough the importance of having adequate lifeguard coverage at our public beaches—especially as we approach the upcoming cruise ship season.
Bermuda’s beaches are a treasured part of our tourism offering, but without proper safety measures in place, we are putting lives at risk and damaging our reputation as a safe and welcoming destination.
The Minister has acknowledged ongoing issues, including a decline in applications, low starting pay, and an overreliance on seasonal workers. While it is encouraging that the Government is engaging external expertise through the RNLI and advertising for eight full-time consultant lifeguard positions, the reality is this: we are rapidly approaching a busy tourism period, and these matters should have been settled long before now.
This cannot become another example of action delayed. We’ve had tragic reminders of what’s at stake. The safety of both residents and visitors must come first, and it is unacceptable that we are still scrambling weeks before the cruise ships begin arriving in greater numbers.
We call on the Government to expedite the hiring process, improve working conditions, and prioritize the retention of Bermudian lifeguards. If necessary, bring in qualified professionals temporarily to ensure our beaches are protected—because failure to act decisively now could cost lives.
Let us be clear: lifeguards are not optional—they are essential. The time to act is not tomorrow, or next month—it is today.
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